Do you like where you live?

[FnG]magnolia

[FnG]magnolia

[FnG]magnolia

Caporegime
Joined
29 Aug 2007
Posts
28,736
Location
Auckland
Hello wonderfuls!

Statement: I like where we live. It is pleasing.

Background: I live in Auckland, it has an urban population of about 1.5m people. It is the most populous city of New Zealand and the fifth largest city in Oceania (thanks Wiki!). We moved here from the UK in 2009 and it is the single best major life decision we made. Negatives? Loads of them! Nowhere is perfect* but I'd put my just-made-up-right-now-satisfaction-scale at about 95%. Life is good, my wife and kids' lives are good, and I think a lot of that is to do with where you are **

Question: Do you like where you live? Elaborate in your own time.

Thank you.

* apart from being in @Freefaller's arms. Je ne regrette rien.
** it's too early/late for metaphysical questions on what 'are' means, let's go with the obvious, chums.
 
Not really, but I don't remember the last time we got an earthquake so it could be worse.
 
Yes. Bristol. Pretty perfect for me. Busy yet cosy. Near the countryside. Well connected to the South / London / Wales. Pleasingly far away from the North, which is a massive bonus.

Street is quiet with friendly neighbours. Amenities / supermarkets available on foot. Off street parking / garden. Expensive yes but nothing ‘outrageous’ like London.

… tbh I don’t have anything bad to say! Oh OK it would be nice to live in a detached house but I just get on with it. Neighbour’s kids wake me up sometimes with a recorder but tbh that’s just funny, hearing a squeaky rendition of Scooby Doo :D
 
Mostly, it is pretty chill (rural Somerset on Dorset border), negatives lack of investment in infrastructure (though that is increasingly a UK thing) and the parking on the main road through towns and villages we have to go to or pass through to get anywhere which just causes unnecessary chaos.
 
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I live Durham way, nowhere near the more populated areas and on the outskirts leading into the neighbouring countryside.

While I really love the area, I've been watching it decline over the past few years much as other more central parts of the north east have already suffered (and unfortunately continue to do so). I come from Newcastle, but I've lived in a few spots within that region including Gateshead and Sunderland, and frequent them for various reasons almost weekly. There has been a notable downturn in my opinion, I'm sure part of it is funding but the state of Gateshead/Newcastle infrastructure is pretty telling in of itself in that regard. I'll refrain from becoming political, but I do feel that plays a part.

It's at a point where I'm actually considering moving, but being the cheapskate I am I enjoy how low cost things are in the further north regions compared to other parts of the country. If I'm to move at all, leaving the country entirely might well be a better option at this point.
 
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I live in a former mining village which is classed as a deprived area, however after living in Splott* (in Cardiff), everywhere else seems quite swanky.

I really like it- it's green and quiet and I can see the stars in the night sky. I wouldn't want to live in a city again.

*Splott isn't a made-up word
 
If I had to sum up the eastern edge of Southampton in one word, it would be "tolerable."

It's usually nice and quiet in Bitterne village, but I'd prefer to somewhere besides USA that is typically 15-25C all year round and have some decent 250+ foot rural lanes with hills on our doorstep rather than ~7+ miles away.

If the weather was better, I think I'd be quite happy just inland from Prestatyn, where my mum retired.
But I hate wet/cold/windy winters and it's worse on that front than Hampshire.
 
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Yes!!
Been in Auckland myself now since 2017 and as you said, it's not perfect, there are areas to avoid, it has it's ups and downs, but would I move back to the UK? Hell No!! (I am visiting England again in May though). In fact, i'm in the process of buying a house here finally after renting since moving here. That's a whole new ball game, there are a lot of 'dumps' here from all the open homes i've been to in the last 3 months, still not found the ideal home yet but a couple have been close. What part of Auckland (roughly) do you live @[FnG]?
 
No. But at the same time the only place I’d rather be is somewhere like the Canadian wilderness - as remote from people as possible :p
 
wez130 said:
Yes!!
Been in Auckland myself now since 2017 and as you said, it's not perfect, there are areas to avoid, it has it's ups and downs, but would I move back to the UK? Hell No!! (I am visiting England again in May though). In fact, i'm in the process of buying a house here finally after renting since moving here. That's a whole new ball game, there are a lot of 'dumps' here from all the open homes i've been to in the last 3 months, still not found the ideal home yet but a couple have been close. What part of Auckland (roughly) do you live @[FnG]?
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Neighbour!

We're in Pt Chevalier, near the Zoo and MOTAT. My memory is awful - are you the chap who ran the restaurant further up north or was that someone else?
 
No.
Glasgow is horrible, there’s litter everywhere. We do have some amazing pubs and the restaurant scene is pretty good. However the city is just grotty, and there are junkies and scumbags everywhere.
I’m actually hearing back tomorrow about an offer on a house at the seaside which I’m very excited about.
So, yea, Glasgow is amazing. Buy my flat please!
 
UTmaniac said:
It's usually nice and quiet in Bitterne village, but I'd prefer to somewhere besides USA that is typically 15-25C all year round and have some decent 250+ foot rural lanes with hills on our doorstep rather than ~7+ miles away.
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Though a bit of a drive there is a surprising amount of nice areas and "hidden gems" in the ~30 miles or so as the crow flies surrounding Southampton.
 
Live just north of Marlborough.

Good friends, great village community. Been here 20years, kids born and raised here.

Fantastic mountain biking on endless green lanes and the Ridgeway.

Pretty happy.

Only downsides are the British winter. I HATE the dark, cold months. Would love to live somewhere warmer and sunnier but would struggle to leave the community we live in.

Maybe I need a yacht in the med to live on in the winter.....
 
Yes and no.

Living in the UK, there is probably few places I would like more. Semi-rural Eastern Scotland here. Works ok.

If I was to move in UK, I would get out of Scotland. Not much of England I'd fancy, but I do have friends in Bristol, and every time we visit I do really like it. Although the extra cost of housing does seem a bit wild. That said, between the wife and myself, the money we would save on income taxes might pay the extra required on the mortgage.

The way my work is going, I could get a move to Norway though. Not gonna be any better off tax wise. And would be much worse off house wise. And general cost wise. However, the increased "standard of living" elsewhere might make the sacrifice worth it.
 
Ahleckz said:
No.
Glasgow is horrible, there’s litter everywhere. We do have some amazing pubs and the restaurant scene is pretty good. However the city is just grotty, and there are junkies and scumbags everywhere.
I’m actually hearing back tomorrow about an offer on a house at the seaside which I’m very excited about.
So, yea, Glasgow is amazing. Buy my flat please!
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(ex) Neighbour! We lived by Kelvingrove Park 2005-2009 before we came over here. I loved Glasgow. The bawbags can get tae, though.
 
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